David Musil and Neil Manning will log big minutes against the Regina Pats tonight, but three other Vancouver Giants defencemen will be in the spotlight.

"With five defencemen, there's no hiding," said Giants head coach Don Hay.

Vancouver is short on the back end because Luke Fenske's shoulder injury from the weekend turned out to be more serious than first anticipated.

They were already without Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, who has served two games of a seven-game suspension for a hit from behind against the Chilliwack Bruins.

That leaves the inexperienced trio of Tanner Sohn (49 WHL games played), Dalton Reum (23) and Tyler Hart (10) to back up the big two tonight (7:30 p.m., Pacific Coliseum, AM 650).

Energy won't be an issue. The Giants haven't played since Saturday and won't play again until Nov. 26.

Manning, though, took part in Thursday's Subway Super Series game in Prince George, representing Team WHL against Team Russia.

"They'll be counted on heavily," Hay said of Manning and Musil, "but it's a great opportunity for Reum and Sohn and Hart to really step up. There are signs of improvement; the biggest thing we're looking for is more consistency."

Hay said there was brief talk of using forward James Henry on defence if needed, and Michael Burns offered up his services, too.

"But the schedule is in our favour," Hay said. "We'll go with what we've got and make the best of it."

They are also facing a struggling Regina team that is 6-13-2-1 and winless in four. Vancouver (12-8-1-2) is coming off a shootout loss to Prince George.

On Wednesday, the Giants added left-winger Richard Vanderhoek from the BCHL's Surrey Eagles and the 19-year-old Langley native will debut on the top line with Craig Cunningham and Brendan Gallagher. But the Giants will still be without last week's trade acquisition, Brendan Rowinski, a 30-goal scorer for Moose Jaw.

Rowinski returned from knee surgery to play two games for the Warriors this month, but Vancouver's doctors require him to be cleared by his surgeon, which won't happen until the Nov. 26 game in Edmonton.